Public Hearing Summary
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Documentation of Public Hearing Project Location El Paso County US 62/180 (Montana Avenue) CSJ 0374-02-097 Project Limits From Global Reach Drive to FM 659 (N. Zaragoza) Hearing Location R.E.L. Washington Elementary School Gymnasium 3505 Lee Trevino Dr., El Paso, TX 79936 Hearing Date and Time August 2, 2018; Open House: 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.; Formal Presentation: 6:00 p.m. Translation Services Spanish Presenters Bob Bielek, P.E., District Engineer, TxDOT El Paso District Jose Reyes, P.E., Project Manager, Dannenbaum Engineering Manny Hernandez, Right-of-Way Agent, TxDOT El Paso District Lena Camarillo, Environmental Task Lead, Poznecki-Camarillo, Inc. Elected Officials in Attendance None Total Number of Attendees (approx.) 71 (excluding project team members) Total Number of Commenters 16 Contents A. Comment/response matrix B. Public hearing officer certification C. Notices D. Sign-in sheets E. Transcript F. Comments received G. Figures 760.06.TEM APPENDIX A COMMENT/RESPONSE MATRIX COMMENT RESPONSE MATRIX US 62/180 (Montana Avenue) from Global Reach Drive to FM 659 (N. Zaragoza Road) CSJ: 0374-02-097 Public Hearing, August 2, 2018 Commenter Date Commenter # Source Comment Topic Comment Response Name Received 1. Michael 8/14/2018 Email Could TxDOT share with Chairman The proposed project is not Breitinger Pickett the location of 25 anticipated to result in the residential and 5 businesses that number of displacements could be potentially described by the commenter, but involved/affected by the Phase II rather may result in the Montana Project. I would displacement of 4 single-family appreciate [any] housing units, up to 23 business information/map/photo that establishments, and various other maybe responsive. outbuildings, parking areas, etc. The four potential residential displacements are anticipated on the north side of US 62/180 (Montana Avenue) at the Desert Oasis Park. The potential business displacements would occur on both sides of US 62/180 (Montana Avenue) from Tierra Este Road to FM 659 (N. Zaragoza Road). Information on the proposed project is available online at https://www.txdot.gov/inside- txdot/get- involved/about/hearings- meetings/el-paso/080218.html. In addition, project plans and environmental documents for the A-1 Commenter Date Commenter # Source Comment Topic Comment Response Name Received project are available for viewing at the TxDOT El Paso District Office located at 13301 Gateway Boulevard West, El Paso, Texas 79929-5410. 2. Ismael Cepeda 8/2/2018 Comment Great project! Thanks for all the Your support for the proposed Form hard work! project has been noted in the project record. 3. Victor M. Corral 8/2/2018 Comment My name is Victor M. Corral. I am Comment noted. A traffic noise Form 100% disable[d] combat veteran analysis was conducted for the of the US Army. My House is on proposed project, which analyzed . When I existing and projected noise bought my house in [October] conditions at representative 2008 there was hardly any traffic receivers along the US 62/180 on Montana. Now [it] is 2018, ten (Montana Avenue) corridor. The years later [and] the traffic [noise] results of this noise analysis is too much and unbearable for showed that there would be noise me because I suffer from impacts to various receivers along Traumatic Brain Injury [due] to an the corridor; however, based on IED explosion in Iraq 2006. There the analysis, there would not be a is a barrier in place but [it] doesn’t noise impact to the representative help at all. This issue is affecting receiver (residence) located three drastically my quality of life and houses away from your property. with more traffic [it] is going to get Noise abatement measures were [worse]. considered along the US 62/180 (Montana Avenue) corridor within the project limits but were determined that they would not be feasible or reasonable based on TxDOT guidelines. Regarding the existing noise barrier in front of your subdivision, it should be noted that noise A-2 Commenter Date Commenter # Source Comment Topic Comment Response Name Received barriers can only reduce noise and cannot completely eliminate noise. 4. James Cox 8/7/2018 Email Thanks for doing this project as it The number of southbound lanes is long overdue. My concern is on Global Reach Drive would whether you will still maintain the remain the same during same number of southbound construction of Phase 1 of the lanes on Global Reach until phase proposed project. 2 of the project is complete? If you try to reduce the number of Your support for the proposed southbound lanes on Global project has been noted in the Reach where it intersects with US project record. 62/180 I think it will be disastrous and create a huge backlog of traffic. Once you complete phase two it should be fine but I worry about the time between phases 1 and 2, especially if you do not get funding for Phase 2 immediately. Thanks again and keep up the good work! 5. Elisa Garcia 7/23/2018 Email [Comments to the Draft EA] Comment noted. (Ft. Bliss) Read stormwater sections on 23 July 2018 and have no comments. 6. Adam W. 8/2/2018 Comment My concern is how much land is The proposed project is Gonzales Form 50 [feet] going to affect my anticipated to require 45 feet of buildings. If someone can call me proposed right-of-way (ROW) or email me with a more specific within your properties (located on details, I would greatly appreciate the north side of US 62/180 it. (Montana Avenue) and the existing building is anticipated to A-3 Commenter Date Commenter # Source Comment Topic Comment Response Name Received be affected. All ROW acquisitions will follow the requirements of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Properties Acquisition Act of 1970, as amended in 1987. 7. Daniel Gonzales 8/2/2018 Verbal [Indiscernible] my name is Daniel Comment noted. Your opposition Testimony Gonzalez. I understand El Paso’s to the width of the landscaped at Hearing growing, but you have – this is area has been noted in the project another I-10. I mean, why so record. The purpose of the much landscaping space? To proposed landscaping elements is maintain it and how many to create a visually and businesses are guys are going to aesthetically pleasing experience pull out? I honestly think those for the traveler and adjacent landscaping spaces is just too landowners. Extensive much. coordination with the City of El Paso regarding the proposed I have a business, so technically landscaping was conducted as when I open my door it’s going to part of project design. [indiscernible] the freeway. I honestly think that it’s too much The proposed project would landscaping spaces. It’s just require approximately 141 acres dramatically too big in the of additional ROW, which could nighttime. I mean, you haven’t result in up to 4 potential finished the west side. I don’t residential displacements and 23 know how – how would it – how potential business displacements. long is it going to take for you guys to finish? The proposed ROW is needed for additional travel lanes, And that’s the only concern that I interchange improvements, and have. And also, we were told it retention basins. The existing was 20 feet. From 20 feet to 50 ROW would be expanded by feet. I mean, what is it? 20 or 50 approximately 200 feet from feet? It’s going to go in. Because Global Reach Drive to SL 375, A-4 Commenter Date Commenter # Source Comment Topic Comment Response Name Received every time we come to these and by approximately 50 feet from meetings, they’re different every SL 375 to FM 659 (N. Zaragoza single time. That’s the only Road). concern I have. 8. Judy Gutierrez 8/2/2018 Comment Really cool project – long overdue. Your support for the proposed Form project has been noted in the But – please have ample detours project record. to mitigate traffic! During construction, three lanes in each direction on US 62/180 (Montana Avenue) would remain open, with the exception of some nighttime closures that would be required for safety purposes when setting beams on bridges. During these nighttime closures, appropriate detours would be provided. 9. John Kipp 8/10/2018 Email [Comments to the Draft EA] The Environmental Assessment (Ft. Bliss) (EA) was revised to state that Page 7, lines 111 ‐ 112. Fort Bliss ROW would be "obtained" from is not "donating" 98 acres for this Fort Bliss and that undeveloped as far as I know. Please ask land north of US 62/180 Angelica how TXDOT is acquiring (Montana Avenue) west of SL 375 this acreage from Army. Is it by is “owned by” Fort Bliss. easement or ROW. If Army is out‐ granting the parcel at no cost, it The archaeology section of the can say that but using the word Draft EA was reviewed and donate is inappropriate. approved by Fort Bliss' cultural resources subject matter expert; Page 16, line 370. "associated therefore, the referenced with Fort Bliss Property..." What statement was determined to be does this mean exactly? If Fort accurate. Bliss owns the property A-5 Commenter Date Commenter # Source Comment Topic Comment Response Name Received being referenced then it needs to say that. Page 20, line 520. Same comment. Page 23, lines 646‐649. Just confirm that this is an accurate statement. 10. Jaime Ramirez 7/26/2018 Email We have received the DRAFT Information on the proposed ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT for project is available online at US 62/180 (Montana Avenue). We https://www.txdot.gov/inside- will not be able to attend the August txdot/get- 2, 2018 public hearing on the involved/about/hearings- proposed project.